Dr Mallum is SA’s first PhD graduate in radiotherapy, oncology

Cancer patients in Africa face some of the toughest odds in the world. Still, the ground-breaking research of Dr Abba Aji Mallum, who is UKZN’s first PhD graduate in Radiotherapy and Oncology, offers renewed hope for improving cancer care across the continent.

Born in Gamboru Ngala, Borno State, Nigeria, and raised between Gamboru Ngala and Logumane of Dikwa Emirate, Mallum’s journey has been one of resilience and determination. From his early days at Unity Boys’ College Maiduguri (now Government College Maiduguri), he has risen to become a leading oncologist and researcher committed to addressing health inequalities across Africa.

Currently a Consultant Oncologist at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital in Durban, Mallum also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Global Oncology and Public Health at Walter Sisulu University, and as an Associate Professor of Radiation Medicine and Clinical Oncology. He has also held a Research Fellowship at Johns Hopkins University in the United States. His professional standing is matched by a deep commitment to advancing cancer treatment in low- and middle-income countries.

His PhD research, supervised by UKZN’s Head of Nuclear Medicine, Professor Mariza Vorster, Professor John Akudugu, and Professor Wilfred Ngwa, was titled: ‘Comparative Analysis of Hypofractionated Versus Conventional Radiotherapy for Breast, Cervical, and Prostate Cancer in an African Setting: A Mixed-Methods Study at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital’.

The study investigated whether shorter courses of radiotherapy (hypofractionation), widely used in high-income countries, could be safely and effectively implemented in sub-Saharan Africa.

The findings were striking. For breast and cervical cancer patients, hypofractionated treatment proved just as effective as conventional fractionated radiotherapy, with no significant differences in survival outcomes. Importantly, hypofractionation drastically reduced treatment time, waiting periods, and costs -making cancer care more accessible to patients in resource-limited settings. For example, breast cancer patients receiving hypofractionated radiotherapy had comparable five-year survival rates (97%) to those receiving conventional treatment (98%), but at nearly half the cost. Cervical cancer patients completed their treatment almost twice as quickly, with similar clinical outcomes and fewer logistical burdens.

“My research shows that shorter treatment schedules are safe, cost-effective, and feasible in Africa,” said Mallum. “Cancer patients here deserve the same chance at survival as anyone else in the world. My goal is to make that vision a reality.”

The significance of his work goes beyond clinical outcomes. By generating home-grown clinical data from African cohorts, Mallum has ensured that international oncology guidelines can be informed by African evidence rather than relying solely on studies from high-income countries. His findings have already been published in leading journals and presented at prestigious international conferences.

With radiotherapy machines scarce across sub-Saharan Africa – and some regions having only one machine per five to 10 million people – hypofractionation could enable more patients to be treated with existing resources, helping to close the continent’s cancer treatment gap.

Vorster congratulated Mallum: “I am very proud of Dr Mallum’s hard work, determination and perseverance, and look forward to celebrating many more milestones and achievements with him.”

Looking to the future, Mallum plans to lead large-scale clinical trials across the continent to firmly establish hypofractionated radiotherapy as the standard of care in Africa. Beyond his professional achievements, he is fluent in English, French, and Arabic, and is a devoted family man who enjoys mentoring young professionals, reading, and participating in community development.